what I question is why anyone would want bigger bumpers .

if it's safety, making the van into a battery  ram won't help at all in a
rollover, or side impact crash.

adding weigh to the ends of vehicle is a disadvantage dynamically ..
'polar moment of inertia' ..means a thing heavy at the ends doesn't like to
change directions as easily.

so nimbleness of handling will diminish some.

and  I wonder about the built-in crushability that's engineered, very
intentionally , into the vehicle..
it might actually not be as safe with bigger heavier bumpers on it, in terms
if impacts from the ends and nice controlled crushability there.

I'm sure people realize the idea of crumble zones is to spread the forces
out over those first milliseconds of hitting something ..controlled
deformation for occupant protection.
 Make it into a battering ram ..and you loose that, I'd think.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Troy" <colorworks@GCI.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:25 PM
Subject: Bumpers

> Was just looking at the new "big bumpers" from Van Cafe' and then
> comparing them to Go Westy's bumpers.  There's a several hundred dollar
> price difference.  Does anyone care to comment on the relative advantages
> of one over the other?  Considering my location, the Van Cafe' bumpers,
> despite there higher price, may actually work out cheaper because of
> shipping. Any disadvantages to the Go Westy bumpers? Sounds like some
> minor cutting of the van is required.
>
> Troy